Hirschsprung's (HURSH-sprungz) disease, or HD, is a
disease of the large intestine.
The large intestine is also sometimes called the colon. The word bowel can refer to the
large and small intestines. Hirschsprung's disease usually occurs in children.
It causes constipation, which means that bowel movements are difficult. Some
children with Hirschsprung's disease can't have bowel movements at all. The
stool creates a blockage
in the intestine.
If Hirschsprung's disease is not treated, stool can fill
up the large intestine. This can cause serious problems like infection, bursting of the colon, and even death.
Most parents feel frightened when they learn that their child has a serious
disease. This information will help you understand Hirschsprung's disease and how you and the doctor can
help your child.
Why does Hirschsprung's disease cause constipation?
Normally, muscles in the intestine push stool to the anus, where stool
leaves the body. Special nerve cells in the intestine, called ganglion cells, make the
muscles push. A person with Hirschsprung's disease does not have these nerve cells in the last part
of the large intestine.
Healthy large intestine: Nerve cells are found throughout the intestine.
Hirschsprung's disease
large intestine: Nerve cells are missing from the last part of the intestine.
In a person with Hirschsprung's disease, the healthy muscles of the intestine push the stool
until it reaches the part without the nerve cells. At this point, the stool
stops moving. New stool then begins to stack up behind it.
Sometimes the ganglion cells are missing from the whole large intestine and
even parts of the small intestine before it. When the diseased section reaches
to or includes the small intestine, it is called long-segment disease. When the
diseased section includes only part of the large intestine, it is called
short-segment disease.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
Constipation is defined medically as fewer than three stools per week and severe constipation as less than one stool per week. Constipation usually is caused by the slow movement of stool through the colon. There are many causes of constipation including medications, poor bowel habits, low fiber diets, abuse of laxatives, hormonal disorders, and diseases primarily of other parts of the body that also affect the colon.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21, also referred to as trisomy 21. Most individuals with Down syndrome have widely recognizable physical characteristics. The severity of Down syndrome ranges from mild to severe. Diagnostic testing for Down syndrome include amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, and percutaneous umbilical cord sampling. The most common risk factor for Down syndrome is a woman's age.
A diaper rash is a skin irritation that develops in the diaper-covered region. Most diaper rashes are caused by bacterial or yeast infections, though some may be caused by contact dermatitis or allergic reactions to the diapers and wipes. Cleansing with water and soft cloths, followed by application of petroleum jelly or zinc oxide and frequent diaper changes is the best treatment for a diaper rash.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also
known as burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the
mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by
swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the
belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for
swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too
rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they
are swallowing air. "Burping" infants during bottle or
breastfeeding is important in order to expel air in
the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk.
Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some
people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their
stomachs. For others, belching is a response to an...
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